The Hauling Exemptions for Livestock Protection (HELP) Act was introduced this week by Rep. Jeff Hurd of Colorado. The legislation supports livestock haulers by protecting drivers from burdensome hours-of-service (HOS) and electronic logging device (ELD) mandates.
“When you are hauling cattle, you are dealing with livestock that must be protected from the elements and cannot be easily unloaded until you get to your destination. Livestock haulers need flexibility to complete their trips free from government mandates,” said NCBA Policy Division Chair Skye Krebs, an Oregon rancher who hauls livestock and holds a commercial driver’s license.
If approved, the HELP Act would permanently reinstate HOS and ELD exemptions issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration for about two years during the pandemic, providing the necessary flexibility to transport livestock safely. NCBA is urging Congress to pass the legislation.